KARACHI:
After days of heightened alerts and growing public anxiety, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has confirmed that the threat of heavy rainfall in Karachi has largely passed.
The weather system that had earlier intensified into a deep depression over the Arabian Sea has now weakened back to a depression and is expected to further downgrade into a low-pressure area within hours, officials at PMD’s Early Warning Centre said on Tuesday.
“The system is continuing to drift west and southwest, and is likely to lose more strength by Wednesday night or Thursday,” the department noted.
Light to Moderate Rain Forecast
With the risk of torrential downpours receding, Karachi is now expected to experience only light to moderate showers accompanied by thunder through Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, several neighborhoods saw brief spells of rain, but no severe downpours were recorded.
According to PMD data, Korangi topped the city’s rainfall chart in the last 24 hours with 37.1mm, followed by Gulshan-e-Hadeed (33mm), Gulshan-e-Maimar (17.1mm), Keamari (17mm), and North Karachi (16.6mm). Other areas recorded lighter showers, including Airport (Old Area) with 14.9mm, University Road 14mm, Nazimabad 12.4mm, Jinnah Terminal 8mm, PAF Base Masroor 6mm, and PAF Base Faisal 2mm. Rain was also reported in Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, Malir, Saddar, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Lyari, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, and parts of the Old City.
System Moving Towards Balochistan
PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir Zaigham said the weakening system is expected to move further inland towards Balochistan over the next 24 to 36 hours. Rainfall in catchment areas, he added, may lead to a rise in water levels at Hub Dam.
Heavy Rainfall Still Expected in Sindh Districts
While Karachi may be spared from heavy downpours, the PMD has warned of intense rainfall in several Sindh districts today (Wednesday). These include Dadu, Jamshoro, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Umerkot, Matiari, and Tando Mohammad Khan.
Moderate to heavy showers with thunderstorms are also forecast in Larkana, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, and Shaheed Benazirabad.
Officials stressed that while Karachi residents can breathe a sigh of relief, surrounding districts should remain cautious as the system continues to affect parts of Sindh and Balochistan.
